Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

The Canon PowerShot G9 X and the Olympus Tough TG-5 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in October 2015 and May 2017. Both the G9X and the TG-5 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on an one-inch (G9X) and a 1/2.3-inch (TG-5) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 12 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

The physical size and weight of the Canon G9 X and the Olympus TG-5 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Olympus TG-5 is notably larger (31 percent) than the Canon G9 X. Moreover, the TG-5 is markedly heavier (20 percent) than the G9X. It is noteworthy in this context that the TG-5 is splash and dust-proof, while the G9X does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the TG-5 is water-proof up to 15m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

Concerning battery life, the G9X gets 220 shots out of its NB-13L battery,
while the TG-5 can take 340 images on a single charge of its LI-92B power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The TG-5 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 15 percent) than the G9X, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon G9 X features an one-inch sensor and the Olympus TG-5
a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the TG-5 is 76 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 5.6. The sensor in the G9X has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the TG-5 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 20MP, the G9X offers a higher
resolution than the TG-5 (12MP), but the G9X nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
2.41μm versus 1.53μm for the TG-5) due to its larger sensor. However, the TG-5 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 7 months) than the G9X, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The Canon PowerShot G9 X has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800
The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus Tough TG-5 are ISO 100 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon G9 X»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

21.5

12.3

495

63

Canon G9 X

Olympus TG-5«

1/2.3

12.0

4000

3000

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Olympus TG-5

Canon G9 X Mark II«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

21.9

12.5

522

65

Canon G9 X Mark II

Canon SX730«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX730

Canon G7 X Mark II«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon M10«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

22.2

11.4

753

65

Canon M10

Canon G7 X«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

23.0

12.7

556

71

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm XP130«»

1/2.3

15.9

4608

3456

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm XP130

Nikon W300«»

1/2.3

15.9

4608

3456

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Nikon W300

Nikon 1 J4«»

1-inch

18.2

5232

3488

1080/60p

20.8

10.7

426

53

Nikon 1 J4

Olympus E-PM1«»

Four Thirds

12.2

4032

3024

1080/60i

21.0

10.3

499

52

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic TS7«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic TS7

Panasonic FZ1000«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.1

11.7

517

64

Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX100 V«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.8

12.4

586

70

Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 IV«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.8

12.6

591

70

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 III«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.4

12.3

495

67

Sony RX100 III

Sony RX100«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.6

12.4

390

66

Sony RX100

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the TG-5 provides a better video resolution than the G9X. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The G9X and the TG-5 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder.
The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon G9 X, the Olympus TG-5, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon G9 X»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

2000

6.0

Y

Y

Canon G9 X

Olympus TG-5«

-

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

2000

20.0

Y

Y

Olympus TG-5

Canon G9 X Mark II«»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

2000

8.2

Y

Y

Canon G9 X Mark II

Canon SX730«»

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

3200

5.9

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Canon G7 X Mark II«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

2000

8.0

Y

Y

Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon M10«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

4.6

Y

n

Canon M10

Canon G7 X«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

2000

6.5

Y

Y

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm XP130«»

-

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

2000

10.0

Y

Y

Fujifilm XP130

Nikon W300«»

-

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

7.0

Y

Y

Nikon W300

Nikon 1 J4«»

-

n

3.0

1037

Fixed

Y

4000

60.0

Y

n

Nikon 1 J4

Olympus E-PM1«»

-

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

4000

5.5

n

Y

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic TS7«»

1170

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1300

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TS7

Panasonic FZ1000«»

2359

n

3.0

921

swivel

n

4000

12.0

Y

Y

Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX100 V«»

2359

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

2000

24.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 IV«»

2359

n

3.0

1228

tilting

n

2000

16.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 III«»

1440

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

2000

10.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 III

Sony RX100«»

-

n

3.0

1229

fixed

n

2000

10.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The G9X
has a touchscreen, while the TG-5 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example,
for setting the focus point.

Both the G9X and the TG-5 have zoom lenses built in. The G9X has a 28-84mm f/2.0-4.9 optic and the TG-5 offers a 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Olympus provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Canon. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G9X and the TG-5 write their files to SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison: Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot G9 X and Olympus Tough TG-5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon G9 X»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G9 X

Olympus TG-5«

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Olympus TG-5

Canon G9 X Mark II«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon G9 X Mark II

Canon SX730«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Canon G7 X Mark II«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon M10«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon M10

Canon G7 X«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm XP130«»

-

mono

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm XP130

Nikon W300«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Nikon W300

Nikon 1 J4«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Nikon 1 J4

Olympus E-PM1«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic TS7«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic TS7

Panasonic FZ1000«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX100 V«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 IV«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 III«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 III

Sony RX100«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

-

-

-

Sony RX100

The TG-5 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Olympus.
In contrast, the G9X has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the G9X was succeeded by the Canon G9 X Mark II.

Review summary: Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

So how do things add up? Is the Canon G9 X better than the Olympus TG-5 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus Tough TG-5:

Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.

More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (340 versus 220) out of a single battery charge.

Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.

Water-proof: Can be used in the rain and for underwater photography (up to 15m).

More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (15 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 7 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G9X emerges as the winner of the contest (11 : 9 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera.

G9X 11:09 TG-5

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the G9X and the TG-5 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews: Canon G9 X vs Olympus TG-5

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). You can find the full text of the reviews by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.